President Aquino: Death of MILF members in Basilan clash has no effect on Bangsamoro agreement

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 16): President Aquino: Death of MILF members in Basilan clash has no effect on Bangsamoro agreement

President Benigno S. Aquino III said Wednesday that the death of four members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in an encounter with the military in Basilan will have no effect on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

“Iyong napatay na miyembro nila (MILF) ay hindi nandoon sa engkwentro bilang miyembro ng MILF kundi dahil mga kamag-anak ng mga Abu Sayyaf na hinahabol. Mas personal rather than political or ideological,” President Aquino explained.

“So, hindi natin nakikita na magiging problema o balakid ito sa napirmahang Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.”

This was the response of President Aquino when asked by reporters during an ambush interview while the Chief Executive visited the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex at the Manila North Harbor in Tondo, Manila.

President Aquino said the MILF has been informed that there will be an operation against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan.

“Ginamit natin ang mga mekanismo para hindi nga magkaroon ng hindi pagkaka-unawaan at na-inform ang MILF tungkol sa operation na ito,” he said.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in Malacanang Palace last March 27, concluded 17 years of peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.

News reports said the military launched an operation on April 11 to capture two top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group blamed for beheadings and kidnappings in southern Philippines.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Emmanuel Bautista said in Zamboanga City on Tuesday that the MILF members were supposedly “acting on their own” to help ASG members who were reportedly their relatives.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=635907